Communicating climate change in south-west Western Australia

CASE STUDY 3.5: Climate variability and change in Western Australia

With variable rainfall against the backdrop of an extended drying trend, managing climate risk to water security in south-west Western Australia is a critical climate challenge. Helping water users understand this risk is an important management action.

We prepared communication materials for the Western Australian Government to convey the latest climate change science to their stakeholders, with a focus on rainfall in south-west Western Australia. Records show that since 1900 cool season rainfall has decreased over the region, particularly since the 1950s, even though there is variability from year to year and decade to decade. This information was presented in an animated map of rainfall over time over south-west Western Australia, that was extended into the future to show that drying will continue.

The map and supporting technical materials make the latest climate change science accessible to water suppliers and users in the region so it can be used to inform and support decisions about water security.